Spin friend Chris Oddo has a piece up at Tennis Now that makes for a stirring, invigorating read: "Tearjerkers and Tennis: What moved us in 2012." For all the Top 10 lists that wrap up the year, this is a different sort of roundup, starring the likes of Alisa Kleybanova to Brian Baker, Virginie Razzano to Venus Williams. And lest you forget, Japan's Kei Nishikori won his home nation's marquee tournament for the first time in its 41-year history.
Oddo also spotlights the Juan Martin del Potro-Novak Djokovic bronze-medal match at this summer's Olympic Games in London. A rousing moment, to be sure, and one that saw Delpo face the Djoker only because the Argentine had just barely suffered a loss, 19-17 in the final stanza, to Roger Federer in the semifinals. That match finish, in the thought-provoking words of TENNIS.com's own Steve Tignor, summoned a lot of feelings: "Their nuzzle of consolation and congratulation was the most emotional handshake that I can remember from 2012."
BONUS: From another Tennis Now write-up, it's delightful to see how great one Gabriela Sabatini looks, on hand with Roger Federer, Paola Suarez, and Jose Luis Clerc after Fed's Buenos Aires exhibition.
—Jonathan Scott (@jonscott9)